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Featured » National
Mutharika defends human rights record
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By Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times |
December 11, 2011 · 36 Comments |
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has mounted an extraordinary defence of his human rights record, saying his government generally respect rights of its citizens.
In his recorded address to the nation on state television on December, Human Rights Day, a United Nations (UN) sanctioned day of observance, Mutharika said “there are no political prisoners or prisoners of conscious in Malawi jails.”
Mutharika also said there have been no political assassinations in the country since 2004 when he took over power. However, government is yet to form an inquiry on pro-democracy activist Robert Chasowa who is believed to have been murdered by regime thugs this year. He was a student of the University of Malawi.
Mutharika: Human rights must go with responsibility
“Since 2004, there have been no death sentences carried out even on criminals that were convicted of murder,” said Mutharika.
He also claimed that several cases of treason and sedition – which are politically motivated – have been withdrawn unconditionally by his government.
President Mutharika also said he had pardoned the gay couple that had been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
“In fact one of them has married a normal wife; a woman,” he added.
Mutharika said during the recent anti-regime street demonstrations, “no one was harassed or jailed on the count of exercising their right to demonstrate.”
But the President did not mention of the 19 people who were killed by the police when they used lethal force.
Mutharika also said the four lecturers at the University of Malawi, who had been dismissed from their jobs in the fight for academic freedom, were reinstated unconditionally.
The President said his government has since established a high level commission of inquiry to reveal the working conditions at the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, “so as to promote a common definition of academic freedom so that in future we can settle all our disputes in an agreed rules of engagement.”
He said commission of enquiry has been established to enquire into the causes of riots, looting, arson and deaths that occurred on July 20 and 21.
“We have invited the United Nations, the African Union and the Sadc secretariat to send experts to join this commission,” he said.
Adding: “We have instituted the Presidential Contact and Dialogue Group to engage in constructive discussion with the civil society organizations so that we can agree as a nation on a common way forward.”
Mutharika called on all Malawians to be “the advocates and guarantees of human rights.”
The President said human rights must work hand in hand together with responsibilities.
“I want to appeal to all human rights campaigners to recognize that while they are ascertaining their rights, they must also make sure that every citizen of Malawi including the president is guaranteed human rights and therefore we should not suppress the rights of other people while we are advocating the adherence for our own,” said Mutharika.
Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairperson John Kapito said during a human rights debate in Lilongwe that campaigners are “living dangerously “in the country, saying “there is a devil in Malawi and is here to stay.”
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Tags: Bingu wa Mutharika, human rights
36 Responses to “Mutharika defends human rights record”
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Namoyo….have you seen how many people have agreed with my views. If you have not understood anything is either you are ignorant or you have just chosen to act dumb!
I do not attack people on here I speak my mind and so should you. Don’t waste your time kunyoza mfundo za anzanu coz after all my views and sentiments were not directed to you so wise up. Contribute and make constructive critisisms..some of us we just don’t follow zochita Bingu and his cronies on Nyasatimes. Go on you tube UNMalawi channel and you will get my point.
If you did not get what I said mwina ndinakalemba chichewa eti…wake up!!!!
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Replyin Short Bingu is an IDIOT really. look at the petro price
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Replywhen you go to war
remember to go with strong men
Retreat when your soldiers are dying in masses to regroup
It is stupidity to fight on when the direction is gloomy and tense
Ask for wisdom from experienced and not from todlers in the streat as they are flowers that weathers at 8 O’clock sunshine
The wise will… and the foolish …
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ReplyTO HELL WITH BINGUS SPEECH ON HUMAN RIGHTS, IT IS FULL OF WISHES AND NOT ON FACTS, SHAME ON YUOOOOOOOOO
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ReplyI had a dream, Second 5 thin cows eating first 5 fat cows. Then I was shown an inscribed writing ‘Many Many Takel Opharism’!!!!!!!!!
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ReplyA Malawi, a Malawi, a Malawi. Let us be careful here. Bingu is not stupid. He is using this tribal technique to weaken those who oppose him. This is not the time to talk about Lomwe, Tonga, Tumbuka, etc. We should not allow him to do this. When you fight a war of libreration you concentrate on the common enemy. The common enemy t is Bingu and his institutions of oppression. We are not strong enough to fight among ouselves and at the same time fight Bingu and the DDP. At the moment Bingu and DDP are weak and very vulnerable; and we need to take advanatage of his vulnerability. Do NOT stop the fight. Demostrations, strikes, prayers, etc. let us use all the asernal available to us to bring this regime down. Don’t be fooled by the fact that he is bowing dwn to pressure – that is part of his strategy. And lets stop thinking that we will fight him through the ballot in 2014. That is dumb. By that time he will have regrouped, rigged the votes, etc…what will we do then. FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, NOW, NOW, WHEN THE ENEMY IS VULNERABLE. CRUSH YOUR ENEMY CLOMPLETELY. If an ember of fire is left alight, no matter how dimly, it smoulders, a fire eventually breaks out. Let us not stop halfway. When you fight an enemy like Bingu you go through totla annihilation. Crush him, not only in body but in spririt. That way we shall free Malawi from this oppressive regime.
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